EDITORIAL: Kudos to University of Alabama students for service projects

Sunday

Nov 25, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Young people are sometimes seen as self-absorbed and oblivious to their surroundings. Monumental shifts in politics and the economy are said to go right over their heads. The world falls apart around them, but their eyes never shift from the video game they’re playing.

Young people are sometimes seen as self-absorbed and oblivious to their surroundings. Monumental shifts in politics and the economy are said to go right over their heads. The world falls apart around them, but their eyes never shift from the video game they’re playing.The younger generation will always have its carefree and uncaring members. But University of Alabama students are showing that they are engaged with society and that they do care about their community and their world. Two recent efforts amply demonstrate that.UA students participating in the 19th Annual Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger Food Drive donated more than 266,000 pounds of food for needy people. This year, it wasn’t as much as Auburn University students donated — more than 273,000 pounds — but it was more than UA’s winning effort last year, when students donated about 237,000 pounds.Using the competition between the two universities as a motivator, Alabama and Auburn students donated more than 540,000 pounds of food that will be distributed by the West Alabama Food Bank and the East Alabama Food Bank. Certainly, the Alabama students would have liked to have won the competition, but the point was to bring relief to people who need help. Under those circumstances, it shouldn’t be too hard to shake hands with their rivals and congratulate them on a job well done.UA’s Public Relations Student Society of America is also working with the Tuscaloosa Gives Back campaign to collect new and slightly used coats for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Those who have suffered through hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita and others can attest to the comfort providing basic needs can bring. With winter coming soon to the Northeast, warm clothing is essential for victims.These are only two efforts students have been involved in recently. For years, student service, professional and Greek social organizations have contributed to the communities over and over. Perhaps the future is in good hands after all.

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